2002 Toyota 4Runner Tires & Wheels Problems

THIS IS FOR TIRE SIZE P265 75 16. To start, I've seen multiple other complaints describing the same scenario and type of incident. Driving along the highway at appropriate speeds, I hear a whoosh/deep pitch rumble, then my vehicle began to vibrate violently. I was luckily able to pull over but had to swerve to regain control of my vehicle once the rumbling and vibration got too severe since it happened so quickly. Witnessed my driver side rear tire completely shredded, no damage along tread material, only on sidewall with multiple tears/punctures. This was a center lane on the highway with no debris. I'm now noticing other similar "tear/wear" signs on my other 3 tires on the vehicle. All specifically on the sidewall along the aggressive tread that the AT3W tires were known to have for extra grip. It just seems to be separating over time.

WHILE TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE (FIRESTONE DESTINATION LE2 265/70R16; MANUFACTURED APRIL 2015; APPROX. 19,500 MILES ON THE TIRE) ABRUPTLY UNDERWENT COMPLETE TREAD SEPARATION. (SEE PHOTO). ALL FOUR TIRES WERE PROPERLY INFLATED PER TOYOTA'S SPECIFICATIONS. FORTUNATELY, THE STABILITY CONTROL KEPT THE VEHICLE FROM CRASHING. EVEN THOUGH THE TIRE WAS CLEARLY DEFECTIVE, FIRESTONE DECLINED TO ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY AND I WAS FORCED TO PAY FULL PRICE FOR ANOTHER TIRE. I CERTAINLY WONDER ABOUT THE OTHER THREE TIRES AND WHETHER THEY'RE SIMILARLY DEFECTIVE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE BACKING INTO THE DRIVEWAY, THE CONTACT HEARD A THUMPING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT WHEEL WAS DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

RE: GOODYEAR DUNLOP GRAND TREK TG35 P265/70R16 TIRE. ON AUGUST 19, 2011, I WAS DRIVING ON I-10 IN FL AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MILES PER HOUR. THE CAR SUDDENLY GOT VERY BUMPY AND IN A MATTER OF SECONDS, THE REAR RIGHT TIRE EXPLODED ON MY TOYOTA 4RUNNER. I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BUT MANAGED TO FINALLY PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE. AFTER EXAMINING THE DAMAGES TO MY VEHICLE, I NOTICED THAT THE TREAD ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE COMPLETELY SEPARATED ALL THE WAY AROUND THE TIRE. LUCKILY, THE CAR DID NOT FLIP OR COLLIDE WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. I SUSTAINED PSYCHOLOGICAL AND EMOTIONAL INJURIES AND OVER $2000 WORTH OF DAMAGES TO MY CAR AS A RESULT OF THE BLOWOUT. MY CAR ONLY HAS 36K MILES ON IT AND IS ALWAYS KEPT IN THE GARAGE. THE TREAD ON ALL 4 TIRES IS PRACTICALLY BRAND NEW AS IT IS DRIVEN SELDOMLY, WITH REGULAR TIRE ROTATION/BALANCE/MAINTENANCE. THERE SHOULD NOT BE ANY REASON FOR A TIRE WITH THIS LITTLE WEAR AND TEAR TO EXPLODE THE WAY IT DID. I HAVE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH AND REALIZE THAT THIS COULD HAVE HAD A FAR WORSE OUTCOME, AND THAT THE TIRES ARE INDEED DEFECTIVE. IN ADDITION, MY INSURANCE COMPANY WILL NOT COVER THE EXPENSES OF THE TIRES. NOW I AM FORCED TO REPLACE ALL 4 TIRES OUT OF POCKET FOR FEAR OF THE SAME SCENARIO AND NOT AS LUCKY OF AN OUTCOME IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN. IN MY RESEARCH, I ALSO SAW THAT NHTSA HAS OPENED AN INVESTIGATION INTO POSSIBLE TREAD SEPARATION PROBLEMS INVOLVING DUNLOP TIRES SOLD AS STANDARD EQUIPMENT ON 1995-1999 NISSAN PATHFINDER SUVS. NHTSA SAYS IT HAS RECEIVED SIX REPORTS OF INJURIES IN TWO ROLLOVER CRASHES THAT WERE BLAMED ON TREAD SEPARATIONS ON THE GRANDTREK TG35 TIRE. I FEEL THAT UNLESS I SUSTAINED LIFE-LONG INJURIES, PARALYSIS, OR DEATH WOULD THE TIRE MANUFACTURER COME FORWARD WITH ANY GOODWILL OR COMPENSATION. *TR

6/9/08 AFTER LEAVING THE CAR PARKED AT A STORE FOR 20 MINUTES, THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE WAS TOTALLY FLAT. HAD CAR TOWED TO NORTH SHORE FIRESTONE AND TIRES INC ..THEY SAID THE VALVE FAILED. ON THE TIRE...I HAD THE SHOP REPLACE THE VALVE AND REBALANCE THE TIRE.........7/16/2008 I WAS ABOUT TO GO TO WORK AND FOUND THE FRONT LEFT TIRE. MISSING HALF OF THE AIR...I TOOK OUT MY CORDLESS AIR PUMP ,,ATTACHED IT TO THE VALVE AND FELT AIR COMING OUT OF THE VALVE, AT THE STEM...HAD IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC ,HUNTINGTON DIAGNOSTIC IN HUNTINGTON AND HAD THE FRONT AND BACK 2 VALVES REPLACED ..I ALSO HAD THE SERVICE STATION KEEP THE 3 VALVES FOR ME TO PICK UP WHEN THE WORK WAS COMPLETED.........THE TIRES WERE ORIGINALLY REPLACED ALONG WITH THE 4 VALVES AUGUST /2006 THE CAR HAD 55K FROM NYS DISCOUNT TIRE 1765 NY AVE HUNTINGTON STATION NY 11746 631-423-8473 RONNIE/OWNER AT THE TIME OF THE 2 FLATS I HAD 75K AND 77K ON THE CAR.....NINGBO YINZHOU HAIXIN TIRE VALVE CO LTD----MAKES THE VALVES. *TR

BRENT BROWN TOYOTA IN OREUM UTAH PERFORMED A 60,000 MILE CHECK UP ON OUR 2002 4-RUNNER, THE STAFF WERE GREAT AND THE WORK ACCOMPLISHED CORRECTLY. AFTER DRIVING HOME OVER FIVE HOURS FROM THE DEALERSHIP TO OUR HOME, I THOUGHT THAT THE 4-RUNNER SEEMED TO BE RIDING ROUGH. UPON CHECKING THE TIRE PRESSURE, I FOUND EACH TIRE TO BE OVER INFLATED AT 70 POUNDS PER TIRE. I HAD A LOCAL TIRE SHOP, "CANYON LANDS TIRE" CONFIRM THE OVER INFLATED TIRES AT MORE THAN 70 POUNDS IN EACH TIRE. CANYON LANDS TIRE DID VERIFY THAT INDEED THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS AT 70 POUNDS AND MORE. THIS OVERSIGHT ENDANGERED MY WIFE AND I. THE TIRES COULD HAVE RUN OFF THE RIMS RESULTING IN INJURY OR LOSS OF LIFE. I HAVE CONTACTED THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHO SAID THEY WILL BE CALLING BACK. *TR

THE SIDE OF A DUNLOP AT20 TIRE BLEW OUT. ALMOST HALF OF THE SIDE WALL CAME AWAY FROM THE TREAD. REPLACED THE TIRE. LUCKLY I WAS PULLING UP TO A LIGHT SHORTLY AFTER EXITING THE INTERSTATE.

WHILE DRIVING ON A 2 LANE, SMOOTH, DRY, SUNNY ROAD, FRONT WHEEL ASSEBLY FOLDED UNDER THE CAR , CAUSING A COLLISION WITH A RETAINING WALL, AFTER WHICH THE TIRE BROKE AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE WHICH SLID TO A STOP.*AK

WITHOUT WARNING, THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE HAD FOLDED UNDER THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO VEER TO THE RIGHT AND GRAZE A LOW RETAINING WALL, DRAGGING THE TIRE UNDER THE VEHICLE UNTIL IT HAD BROKEN OFF AND THE VEHICLE HAD STOPPED. CONSUMER STATES THAT THIS WAS CAUSED BY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT SHE WAS GIVEN A HARD TIME BY DEALER/MANUFACTURER IN TRYING TO GET THE PROBLEM SOLVED. AN INVESTIGATOR STATED THAT A TOYOTA MANUFACTURING DEFECT WAS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INCIDENT. THE CONSUMER EXPECTS TO BE PAID FOR THE COST OF THE VEHICLE AND THE RETURN/REMOVAL AND RE-INSTALLATION OF ITS AFTERMARKET ACCESSORIES, THE COST OF RENTAL CAR, THE TOWING CHARGES, THE SON'S LOSS OF WORK AND HIS EXTREME DISTRESS OVER THE PROBLEM. *SCC